Ahimsa The Basic Social Ethic

This excerpt from Bool Chand's "Ahimsa, the Basic Social Ethic" argues that the concept of Ahimsa (Nonviolence), as preached by ancient Indian religious leaders like Mahavira and Buddha, is the fundamental social ethic needed to solve global conflicts.

The author highlights that contemporary thinkers, like the renowned philosopher Bertrand Russell, are independently arriving at similar principles without explicitly naming them. Russell, in his book "New Hopes for a Changing World," advocates for the rebuilding of "creative and expansive impulses" as a remedy for humanity's woes, a notion Chand equates to Ahimsa. Russell believes this new ethic, based on harmony with other men, can resolve personal and global problems, leading to a "happy man" and a "happy world."

Chand expresses surprise that Russell does not explicitly identify this ethic as Ahimsa, given its historical significance in India. Russell, in his analysis, identifies three primary human conflicts:

1. Man and Nature: To be resolved by international control of resources, food distribution, and family planning.
2. Man and Man: To be resolved by consolidating weapons of war under an international authority.
3. Man and Himself: To be resolved by global public education to protect individuals from societal pressures and internal fears.

Chand criticizes Russell's analysis for being limited by the current social system and for stopping short in tracing the evolution of social grouping. He argues that human social evolution is moving beyond national groups towards continental and even interplanetary levels, as evidenced by trends in America and Africa, and initiatives like the United Nations.

The author asserts that Ahimsa is intrinsically social, born from human sociality and built upon the principle of harmony. It aims to eradicate qualities like narrowness, selfishness, greed, suspicion, hatred, and self-assertiveness, which are seen as the root causes of conflicts arising from differences in race, religion, or creed. Ahimsa promotes integration and emotional understanding, contrasting with the imposition of one belief or lifestyle on another.

The excerpt concludes by noting the growing global recognition of Ahimsa, citing the establishment of the Ahimsa Shodh-Peeth (Research Institute on Ahimsa) in Delhi following a 1957 World Conference of Religions. This institute aims to foster love and brotherhood by studying the potential of Ahimsa through an objective analysis of humanities and spiritual movements, seeking international cooperation from thinkers and workers worldwide. The author sees this as a positive sign that a "world view of Ahimsa is fast developing."